Relationship Matters

Main menu

Post navigation

Blending Families

There are many aspects of Stepfamily relationships that could be discussed in a Blog. However one aspect I would like to discuss today that you will know makes sense deep down is the issue of preserving the couple relationship. However I can already hear objections coming from biological parents in particular. Biological parents (especially those) who have lived as a single parent bringing up their child or children for a long time will often find it difficult to put their children secondary to their new relationship, and their children will do all they can to keep the “same” alliance and loyalty going with the biological parent, this dynamic often creates outsiders and insiders, which then in turns creates hurts, shames, angers guilts and fears. However, it is the couple relationship that needs to be attended to, because these “two” have chosen to place each other in each other’s care and even though, this is hard work, they have committed to a primary relationship. One cannot have two primaries. Children need to come second.

This requires the couple do the hard work in getting to know each other deeply even when it hurts. This means backing each other up in ways that are loving caring and supportive to the children in public, even if “stuff” needs to be sorted out between them behind closed doors afterwards.